greg775

Great post. Caulfield I am going to try to follow the Cubs a bit this year since some say they may win the division. Feel free to DM me with any comments Cub related. I know from your posts you follow the Cubs some and I know little bout the team except their closer is allegedly good, they have a Cy Young candidate at starter and the Suzuki and Morel guys allegedly can hit.

I was in my car listening to the end of the Sox game on Sirius and DJ and Len were talking about how smooth Nicky looks at 2B. And then Len responded, "and what about DeJong at short? They really look smooth out there." This was after Nicky fielded a routine grounder at second in the ninth. Ugh.

I would praise incessantly and be willing to send 10 bucks cash tip at the end of the season for anybody in soxtalk willing to count the actual fans at our games this year. It would be neat to get an actual attendance count. Not to be a jerk but I could envision under 1,000 fans being at a lot of our games. They'll never list a crowd under 15,000 on the official box. Think about it. Southsiders aren't dumb. They are not gonna show just to get a delicious corned beef sandwich. The amount of fans there will be count-able. Surely somebody in the age of analytics would tackle this challenge for us fans.

It's Opening Day, let them be sunshine one day. It'll change to apathy soon enough. Not sure how Oz is going to comment after games on the postgame. I mean there's not much to say. Look at our lineup. Look at our assortment of pitchers. Yikes (albeit hats off to a nice job by the pitchers today; even pessimist greg can't deny one run allowed is dandy.

And by trading all vets that guarantees 50-60 wins the following season and again the following season. By then the only fans heading to GRate Field will be the once-a-year folks. Did the Sox sell out the opener today?

I would like to say if 'somehow, some way' the Sox are good I will be happy, not hope they reek just because I feel it's a horrible roster makeup and horrible front office and manager. I think I deserve some fair weather-ism after being a Sox fan all my life. Until this year I've never gone completely, utterly negative. Even during the tank years I'd get in trouble on the board for wanting us to win 'meaningless' games in August and Sept. So yes I'd jump aboard the bandwagon if we somehow win. That said ... 49 wins to 51 wins. I'll go 49.

But do you agree ISU is amazing team?

Illinois vs. Iowa State. Holy bleep what a Sweet 16 game. I really like Underwood, but I picked ISU to reach the Final Four. I'd be shocked if this was not an incredibly competitive, sensational game. These teams have had sensational seasons. I dunno who will win. I'll stick with my ISU pick but the Illini are damn good.

KC fans oddly are thinking the Royals are contenders already led by Witt.

Minnesota will win again. The Twins are the best run organization in this wretched division. They will find a way. The White Sox will be dead last with a very low number of victories.

Good bet.

If the bullpen comes through as you say it could the Sox might be able to hang on and win some games in which the team scores 5 or more. If these starters can only go four innings, that's leaving a lot of innings to that pen. Our pen has been so bad since the start of the tank I don't even know what to think. Plus the Sox have no closer. If they happen to lead after eight, good luck in the pressure packed ninth.

Again wait and see. I fear the bullpen of the Sox. Again.

Remember my prediction please and credit me when they win 49, 48, 47 games. My point was the Sox have a horrific 7, 8, 9 in the order. Our other guys are inconsistent at best hitters. Then the pitching. Our staff is not equipped for, uh, anything. Let's say a starter has a great night and goes six and we're leading 3-2. The bullpen blows so some nights the pen will implode. Other nights the closer in the pen will implode. Some nights the starter will get lit up. And finally some nights team just isn't going to hit. There always will be a segment that costs the Sox Ws. This team is incapable of more than 50 wins IMO.

Didn't mean to offend, just thought I'd start a thread that was moderately positive, wondering if this guy actually had a great year the Sox might be a tad bit better than I expect them to be which is 40-50 wins. I went with DeJong cause I don't think our catchers will surprise and the new RF candidates appear to reek. There has to be something positive about this wretched club. I wondered if it might be DeJong.

Folks ... instead of just saying we'll win between 40 and 50 games I have a question that could be answered optimistically or pessimistically. Is DeJong the key to our beloved White Sox season? Do any of you think the former Illinois State player will hit and field better than expected? Could he be the key to a turnaround? Is Paul DeJong destined to make fans as happy as if they sampled a bong? I saw he hit three early dingers in spring training.

I do respect fans who remain optimistic like yourself. Believe. me, it's taken a lot to beat me down to this pessimistic wimpering excuse for a Sox fan, just about ready to 'finally' punt it and start following the Royals and Cubs since they appear to 'maybe' have a clue. Cubs more than Royals. ... I wish I could be optimistic but when I see an up the middle combo of Maldo, DeJong, Lopez truly I give up. And to pitch a guy on Opening Day who won't go more than 3 innings makes me puke to be quite frank. I love our optimistic fans like yourself. For years on this board I've stood up for some players hated by others. I never gave up my love for Oz and even in my depressed state I am grateful for 2005. Hell it's tough to beat out all other baseball teams and we at least got one in Jerry's lifetime. .... Have pity on those of us who now despise the current Sox roster and current Sox manager and GM and owner. We don't want to be this negative, believe me.

The Sox deserve no benefit of the doubt til we see something good happening. This offseason was disgusting. Since letting Burger go for nothing, everything's been negative for good reason. Actually since the hiring of Grifol.

Been reading a little about Sox spring training while also noticing the Cubs have some great closer and a 40 HR guy at 3B. Interesting (I'm attempting to follow both teams this year since the White Sox have offended me as a fan by having to pull another tank/rebuild job. Fletcher has had a horrific spring at the plate (.159, .260 .205, .465) with no Hrs, two RBI. DeJong has had a nice spring; ditto Eloy except he's not elevating; Moose is over the hill; Benintendi has a good OBP; Luis is struggling but we know he's our one star, he's OK by me; Moncada has been excellent getting on base but has shown no power (this team will hit so few HRs it'll make our heads spin); Maldy is an automatic out as is Max Stassi. Lee has hit well but I'm thinking he is no major league stud. Nicky Lopez has been OK. Sheetz and Vaughn have hit some, too. Except for DeJong and Eloy, nobody's knocking in runs and Sheets is the only slugger lifting the ball over the fence. In summary, Sox have had good on base percentage and hitting for average during spring but have no power on the roster and no RBI power.

This is probably because he is one of our only pitchers with electric stuff. I'd love to sit in the stands and hear all the stereotypical older south side fans (isn't it true baseball's demographic is 55 and up gentlemen?) fans express displeasure at the thought of an opener pitching the opener.

I'm sick of the highlight of our season being who we can "flip" midseason. The Chicago White Sox should not be this bad. It's a big city for gosh sakes. The fans deserve more than cool hats and jerseys and anything with the best team logo on it.

The names you mentioned are all unknowns. Is this the Sox future? All cheap guys nobody's ever heard of? Ah for the days of Konerko, Thomas, Ventura, Ozzie, Dye, actual players. Who in the heck is going to watch this on TV or stream much less go in person? If it's true the Cubs are going to win the division that must mean they are at least trying a bit. Greg needs to read up on the Cubs a bit as they are at least from the city of Chicago like the Sox.

I think the problem is the Sox just were in tank mode and it didn't work. Now they are back in tank mode. For me it means total disinterest in the team. Hard to change the "culture" of fan negativity. The Cease trade is underwhelming because we traded one of our "name" players for guys we've never heard of. Can't give a nobody like Getz the benefit of the doubt. Sox have a horrible manager and an inexperienced GM. Yikes.

What do you mean by a lot? Starting pitching will alone cost the team a lot of games. I guarantee you if somebody keeps track of this, it will be the lowest amount of starts going past 4 innings in Sox history. Turning it over to the bullpen will cost the team games. Then you can't deny the 7-9 spots in the lineup are among the worst in Sox history. If and I say IF the Sox continue to have injury problems, wow, the depth is not there either. My point is even on a night the Sox play well, there are numerous factors that can cost them games. I guess the Sox could dominate the other lousy teams in baseball. Yes that is possible. But I say under 50 wins is assured because of lousiness pretty much in all areas except defense where the team is good maybe.

It's scary. What's the modern MLB record for fewest wins in a season? Sox have been bad in the past, but this team truly is the worst in all of our lives (non hyperbole).